Clarins defends itself against interest group attacks

Citing a lengthy legal battle Clarins has defended itself against a targeted interest group campaign that describes the luxury brand's Angel Parfum as inherently dangerous.

The National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation (NTEF) attacks Clarins claiming that the company uses toxic ingredients and engages in deceptive advertising practices.

It has published a series of articles on the company including 'Clarins Paris accused of manufacturing court document' and 'Is Clarins Angel Parfum a Valentine gift or St Valentine's day massacre'.

NTEF president Angel De Fazio, also known Michelle De Fazio, told CosmeticsDesign.com that the organization was deliberately targeting Clarins.

De Fazio said NTEF plans to release its most powerful attack on Clarins in the next 120 days when it will reveal why the interest group has been consistently targeting the luxury brand.

CosmeticsDesign.com contacted Clarins to find out why the NTEF had decided to target the company when many of its criticisms related to allergenic ingredients could also be applied to other manufacturers.

A legal spokesperson for Clarins told CosmeticsDesign.com that the allegations made by the Las Vegas-based group NTEF are highly misleading.

He said NTEF president Angel De Fazio had filed a lawsuit against Clarins in October 2004 claiming that one spray of the company's Angel Parfum had left her permanently disabled.

In a lawsuit filed at the District Court in Clark County Nevada, De Fazio claimed that on entering a Nordstrom store in Las Vegas she was sprayed with Angel Parfum.

The Clarins' spokesperson said she claimed to suffer an allergic reaction to the perfume causing her to become housebound and unable to work.

After a lengthy legal battle De Fazio's claims were dismissed in January 2007 and the court ruled that the allegations were without merit and brought in bad faith. She was ordered to pay Clarins $77,851 in costs, fees and sanctions.

In October CosmeticsDesign.com reported that the NTEF had claimed that Clarins' Angel Parfum fits the FDA definition of a drug because it contains the scent coumarin, which it considers to be a dangerous poison.

However, coumarin is found in over 5,000 cosmetics and detergents including many well known personal care products, according to the Mintel database.

While the ingredient may be toxic in high doses, Mintel analyst Nica Lewis said it would make up a very small part of any fragrance formulation.

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